Building material



M y 1933- .1. WETTLAUFER 2,118,632

BUILDING MATERIAL Filed July 8, 1931 INVENTOR. a/u/as A. Weft/11141 6!" ATTORNEY.

These different elements findv extensive use as Patented May 24, 19 38 BUILDING MATE IAL 7 Jules L. Wettlaufer, Belmont, Mass, assignor to The Patent and Licensing Corporation, Boston, Mass., 'a corporation of Massachusetts 13 Claims.

7 This invention relates to building material adapted to be used as a weatherproofing and an artistic covering medium for theiroof and/or side walls of a building. This invention finds a special application in that class-of materials generally designated by the term, composition building material.

Material of this character. generally comprises a felted foundation or base, saturated or impregnated with a waterproofing compound such as asphalt or similar bitumen, and coated on one or both sides with a 'high melt point asphalt or similar bitumen having partially embedded therev in a layer of comminuted slate, slag or the like.

shingle units, strip shingles and roll roofing.

a covering medium because they can be laid to provides weatherproof covering medium'presenting an artistic. design.

. One of. the specific aspects f the many pleasing weatherproof wall cove ng designs, which may be produced with this type of material, is that of a brick wall with the usual mortar joints. For this purposeit has, heretofore, been customaryto' employ strip shingles consisting of a body having a plurality of spaced tabs in a sin.- glecourse defined .by vertical slots. These strips are surfaced with granules insuch a manner'that the tabareas extending from the butt edge of s -'the strip upward to slightly below the tops of the cut-outs shall simulate bricks, and theremaining .portion of the strip shall simulate mortar. I r

In order that the strips may be laid to closely simulate a brick' wallf they are applied in adjacent relation in each course and in overlapping relation in successive courses. One of the recognized prerequisites of the size of these strips is that their width be of atleast a predetermined minimum dimension in order that asufliciently weatherproof covering may be obtained. For examplerwhere the strips having three inch slots are laid in successive overlapping courses and with the amount ofexp sure of each course being approximately three inches, it is necessary that the total width of the strip be somewhat.

Thus, the strip would have a; one inch a wall covering composed of Application July 8, 1931, Serial No. 549,432-

in order to preventthe weathering elements from driving up and under that portion above thetops of the notches and reaching the structure to be protected. Of course, with this particular construction a good. deal of material is necessary 5 tolproduce a weatherproofing covering. Moreover, owing to the fact that each strip has a portion of I but one row of brick simula tions thereon,.'a considerable number of these strips must be laid to" properly cover one square 1 of surface, the term square being generally used to designate one hundred square feet of surface. Where thirty-six by seven men strips are laid with a one inch head lap and a three inch exposure to provide a brick simulating cov- .15 ering for one hundred square feet of surface to be protected, 233 square feet'of material is required.

The employment of the strips embodying my invention and hereinafter particularly described 20 enables a square of wall surface to be adequately covered and simulate a'brick. wall by using a smaller number of strips and less material.

An object of my invention is to provide a composition ,building' material of predetermined time and material in laying a weatherproof stone,

Erick, tile or other like wall simulation.

Other objects will be apparent from the fol-- lowing specification and the attached drawing 35 wherein, 2 v

Figure 1 illustratesa plan view of a portion of strips, such as that shown in Figure 2; v I l I Figure 2 is a plan view of a strip shingle em- 0 vbodying my invention;

Flgure 4 illustrates a plan view of a portion of 45 1 a wall covering .composed'of strips, such as that shown in Figure 3.

In accordance with my invention the novel covering means may be in strip shingle or roll roofing form. One embodiment of my invention "as shown in Figure 3, comprises a composition building strip of generally rectangular shape with side edges H and I2 and upper and lower edges l3 and M respectively. Along the bottom edge ll oi the strip, are a plurality of parallel distance corresponding to the length of a common brick. Although the dimensions of these slots may vary within certain limits, it is preferable that their lengths correspond to the approximate depth of an ordinary brick and their width correspond to that of an ordinary vertical mortar Joint of a brick wall. Spaced above the top edges of this row of slots 2| a distance corresponding to the depth of a horizontal mortar joint of a common brick wall are a plurality of slots 22. These slots 22 are located so that the longitudinal median line of each of these slots is approximately coincident with the transverse median line of the area therebelow and between the slots 2i. These slots also need not be of exact dimensions, but for the purposes of this invention it is preferred that their width be substantially the same as that of the slots 2! and their length be equal to that of a slot 2| plus the depth of a horizontal mortar joint of a brick wall. The top portion of the strip measuring from the tops of the slots 22 to the upper edge i3 of the strip is of a width preferably slightly greater than the distance from the butt edge i l of the strip to the tops of the cut-outs 22.

In order that the lower portion of each strip when laid may simulate a plurality of courses of brick with the usual mortar joints therebetween, with a clear line of demarcation between the mortar joint and brick simulating areas, and so that the latter will stand out against the mortar joint simulating areas, the upper face of the strip or that face to be exposed may be constituted in the manner hereinafter presently described. The total upper face of the strip, namely that face to be exposed, has a coating of asphalt or similar bitumen thereon. Preferably the asphalt coating is of predetermined and equal thickness on those areas of the strip extending from the butt edge thereof to the tops of the cutouts 2i and from the/bottoms ofthe cut-outs 22 to a distance slightly below the tops of the cutouts 22, corresponding to the depth of a horizontal mortar joint of a brick wall. The asphalt coating onthe remaining area of the strip com- .prising the areas between the upper and lower limits of the lower and upper coatings respectively and between the upper edge of the strip and the upper limit of the upper coating, may also be of predetermined thickness and preferably of less thickness than that of the other coated areas. In order that the rectangular areas having the coating of greater thickness thereon and defined by the butt edge of the strip,-

the longitudinal edges of'the slots, and the upper and lower limits of the thicker coatings may simulate bricks, the coating on these rectangular areas has partially embedded therein a layer of relatively coarse mineral granules such as commlnuted slate, slag or the like of any desired brick color. The remaining or thinner coating layers adjacent thereto and of a color' contrasting with that of the surfacing material need not be surfaced, but I prefer to surface these areas with. talc, mica or other relatively fine grits of mior and contrasting with that of the brick surfaced areas.

Moreover, in order that these strips may provlde an efilcient weatherproof covering simulating a brick wall, the strips are of such length that the respective end brick simulating areas 30 and 3| on each end of the strips are respecand three quarters the length of a full brick 2,118,682 tab defining slots 2i spaced from each other a simulating area. The purpose of this particular design is so that when the strips are laid in the customary manner side by side in any one course, the quarter brick simulation of one course will be immediately adjacent the three-quarter brick simulation in the same course of another strip immediately adjacent thereto and together will form a full brick simulation. Moreover, when the covering is laid in the ordinary manner of overlapping courses with the slots 2i of an over-- lapping course appropriately staggered with respect to the slots 22 of a subjacent course, the line of juncture between adjacent strips of the lapped portion of the subjacent course will not be in line with the slots of the overlying course, but will be covered by the brick simulating areas of the overlapping course.

These strips are laid in the customary manner to provide a brick wall simulating siding by first applying to the lowermost longitudinal area of the side wall a strip of roll roofing of approximately the same width as that of the shingle strip to be applied and having its top surface of the same color as that of the mortar joint simulating areas on the face of said shingle strip. Then a shingle strip embodying my invention is positioned thereover in a horizontal relation, with its left hand edge coinciding with a corner of the building, and appropriate fastening means such as nails are driven therethrough at any convenient points, and preferably slightly above the slots 22, and into the supporting structure.

The next strip of that course is laid by positioning it over the already applied roll roofing and locating it so that its left hand edge is closely adjacent to the right hand edge of the previously applied strip and its upper and lower edges are in substantial alignment with the corresponding limits of the previously laid shingle. At this stage, as before, it is to be fastened to the supporting structure by nails driven therethrough and. into the supporting structure. Thus, the first course may be completed by a repetition of these simple operations.

After the first course has been properly laid, the next succeeding or overlapping course is applied. In order to provide an eflicient weatherproof covering closely simulating a brick wall and so that the line of juncture between the ad: jacent strips of a subjacent course shall not coincide with either a slot in or the line of juncture between adjacent strips of a succeeding or overlapping course the initial strip of the next succeeding or overlapping course is preferably not a full or normal length strip but comprises a shorter strip having its end brick simulating areas corresponding to those on a full or normal length strip. This shorter strip is laid with its left hand edge coinciding with the corner of the building and with the left" hand edge of the first full or normal length strip in the previously laid course, and its butt edge coinciding with the tops of the cut-outs 22, in the subjacent course. A plurality of nails are then driven therethrough at that portion of the strip above the tops of the cut cuts 22, and into the supporting structure. As before, a full strip is laid with its left hand edge coinciding with the right hand edge of the previously laid strip and with the upper and lower edges of the full strip being in line with respective limits of the previously laid shorter strip, and a plurality of nails driven therethrough at any appropriate place. The course may be completed oneness L lined. When'usingstrips oi this particular desisn'. care should be taken in laying a'shorter ship as heretofore outlined, as the initial strip toting area in a completed wall covering structure, 1 preferably provide the shinele strip illusltd trutedfin Figure 2." As shown, the strip consists oi on upper portion it of awidth preterahly elishtly greater than the depth of a two course hrich wall with the usual mortar Joints, an intermediate portion 5! ofa width corresponding to the depth of a common hrich and slower portion d2 'of a width equal to the sum of the depths of a brick and horizontal-mortar loint, all portlons being of general rectangular shape. The lengths of the portions 5i and 52 are suhstsntimly the same and approximately equal to the length or the portion 60 minus the width of a mortar joint.- The upper portion td has side edges and it! and. upper and lower limits Eli and respectively, and the intermediate portion ill hos upper and lower limits to and ti, respectively and side edges 58 and 5%. The portion ti hes therein a plurality. of spaced parallel slots dividing it into areas of equal lenuths with the length of each/area being preierahly'ahout the some as the corresponding dimension of a cornend their top edges located on the portion oil uhove defined by the slots ill.

neon hrick. These slots dll are preierahly of a width corresponding to that ol a mortar joint andhave their bottom edges opprordmntely colncident with the lower limit tilt of the section hi and spaced above the upper limit Hit of the section ti a distance corresponding to the depth of n horizontal mortar joint. the side edge is spaced inwardly from the'edpe lit a distance cor responding to the width of a slot or a cut-out tit plus one quarter the leneth oi an area deiined hvtwoadiacent slots end the side edee is spaced outwardly irornthe edge ht a distance corresponding to one-quarter the length of on t nrea'deilned by two adjacent slots.

tudlnal'center lines are opproinmly coincident with the transverse center line of the areas therel'lciese slots divide the lower portion into n plurnlity oi trees of equal lengths, with the length oi each open corresponding to the lensth ot a common hrlotr. it is to he observed thatthe slots (ill and ore of approximately the some width end that the vertical distance from the tops oi the slots to the bottoms of the slots to is equal to the il proulmate depth of, o, horlnontal niortnr joint ithe side e it extending hetween the hori- .-uontol limits of the lower portion is spaced out' wurdly irom the side edge a distance corresponding to the sum oithe width of a mortar joint and one-hall" the length ct s. rectangular urea; defined by-th'e slots tt; and the laterol edee r extending from the lower limit ti up to or any desired hrick color.

endure section 65 projecting outwardly from the upper part'of the portion 52, a distance correspending to the width of a mortar joint, is spaced inwardly from the doc edge Fill a distance corresponding to the width of a mortar joint plus onehulf the length of a rectangular area defined by two adjacent slots t l.

The total upper face of thestrip has a coating oi asphalt or similar bitumen thereon and preterehly the amhoit coating is of predetermined andnreater thickness on those areas of the strip extending from the butt edge thereof to the tops oi the cut-outs he and from the lower edge of the slots to to the limit that is spaced downwardly from the upper edges of the slots-6t emtance corresponding to the depth of a horirental mortar joint. The asphalt costing on the remaining area of the strip, comprising the cross hetween the upper and lower limits of the lower and upper coating respectively and .hetween the upper limit of the upper coating and the upper edge tit, may also he of predetermined and preterahly of less thickness than that of the first men tinned coating. The thicker coating areas have pertlally embedded therein a layer of relntively coarse grits such as crushed slate, sing or the litre The remaining or thinner coatings may he left unsurtaced or surfaced, with powdered talc, mice or relatively fine mineral grits of a color and site contrasting with v that of the lorich colored granules.

These strips may he applied with once and despatch in the tollowing manner:

First, a strip of roll routine, or eppropriate width and whose surface to he exposed ls suh stn-ntislly the some as that of the mortar joint simulating areas on the strips, is laid on the longitudinal lease area oi the side well to he cot/- ered'. Starting at one edge or the well, n. strip such as shown in theme d, but severed alone a line through the side edge is laid over the roll roofing strip with the severed edge helps substantlally coincident with the edce of the well and the strip proper being in a substantially hori-= rental position. thereafter the next shingle strip &

odlacent strips there is formed a slot substantially q ldcntlcalwith the slots (tit and t l in each strip. the second course may he laid lnthe usual nosn per, care, however, heine tahen in properlysev V e; the initial strip for the second and other alternating courses so that when the correspond ins strip lssieid adjacent thereto in that course the lines oi juncture hetwe'en the edges lit and oi ndlacent strips shall not he in line with the slots of the nest succeeding course to he applied. it is to he ohserved that where thirty six hy thirteen inch strips are laid with e, sin inch on posure and n one inch head lap to provide a bricl;

well simulating covering for one hundred square feet oi surface to he protected, only two hundred hit and siuteen square feet of material is required.

lln view of the torepoins it is opponent that s. nolnlni amount oi material is required, and thnt toy employing a two course hriclr shingle strip 'elnhodrlne my invention there is approximately a let per cent snvtne in material.

Another advantage oi niy invention resides in the reduction, for any given number of courses in unit urea, oi the horizontal erposed edsesg which may be blown upwardly by the wind and which are susceptible to other adverse influences by the weather.

Although I have specifically described my invention in conjunction with a shingle strip, this is by no means to limit the scope of my invention. Some of the other possible modifications ofmy invention are a shingle strip of indefinite length and constituting whatis generally known in the trade as roll roofing; a laminated structure consisting of a suitable base having adhesively secured thereto by asphalt or similar adhesive composition a building strip whose entire upper face is divided into a plurality of brick simulating courses with the usualmortar joint simulations therebetween as shown in .the lower portion of Figures 2 and 3; and a shingle strip or roll roofing whose entire upper face is divided into a plurality of brick simulating courses with the usual mortar joint simulations therebetween. The last mentioned modification may be applied directly to a side wall whose face is similar in color to that of the mortar joint simulating areas, or whose face may be first coated with a bituminous adhesive before the application of said element. Moreover, I'do not wish to be limited to the number of brick simulating courses in each strip, and I have described a two course brick simulation as a convenient means of illustration. I appreciate that where the head lap is constant and the number of brick simulating courses in each strip is greater than two, the amount of material required to cover one-hundred square feet of surface is lessened.

I claim as my invention:

1. A covering sheet for laying on a surface in overlapping arrangement comprising a base having the portion thereof intended to be exposed demarkedby a plurality of parallel stripes across the sheet and by cuts in the base extending transversely to the stripes into areas simulating bricks laid in a plurality of courses with the vertical joints of one course offset from the vertical joints of the adjacent courses, the ends of said exposed portion of the sheet being cut in the offset form along the lines of the end brick simulating areas of the sheet but having for each simulated horizontal joint at an end thereof a portion of the base extending beyond the end of an end brick simulating area to provide an abutment against which to abut the end of a similar sheet so as to leave spaces between the ends of the sheets to simulate vertical joints of brickwork.

2. A covering sheet for laying upon the surface of a .wall in oveslapping arrangement with similar covering sheets which comprises a base, a plurality of parallel stripes extending across the exposed portion of the sheet and spaced apart distances equivalent to the depth of a brick to simulate horizontal joints of brickwork, cut-outs in said base extending between said stripes at right angles thereto and having the width of and being spaced apart inthe direction of the stripes distances to simulate the vertical joints of brick work, the ends of said exposed portion of the sheet being cut in stepped arrangement along the simulated brickwork joints, the portions of the base upon which are simulated the horizontal brick joints being extended beyond the end of an adjacent brick simulating, area in the direction lengthwise of said horizontal joint for a distance equal to the width of the vertical joint and with a height equal to the width of the horizontal joint whereby an abutment is formed against which the opposite end of a similar sheet may be laid and thereby a space is left between portions of the end edges of adjacent sheets to simulate the vertical brick joint at the end of said sheet.

3. A covering sheet for laying upon the surface of a wall in overlapping arrangement with similar covering' sheets which comprises a base of impervious material and having extending across the portion of the sheet to be exposed a' plurality of parallel stripes and having cuts in the base between the stripes in staggered arrangement simulatively to demark the bricks and to simulate respectively the horizontal and the vertical joints of brickwork laid in courses, the ends of the. sheets being cut in stepped form along said simulated joints, the end-of the portion of the sheet to be overlapped being in stepped relation to the cuts simulating the vertical joints of the brickwork.

4. A covering sheet for laying upon a surface in overlapping arrangement with similar covering sheets which comprises a base having upon the portion to be exposed thereof a simulation of masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with longitudinal and transverse mortar joints therebetween, the end of-the portion to be overlapped of said sheet being on a line which if extended would pass intermediate the simulating transverse joints of the masonry, the longitudinal length of said portion .to be overlapped being greater than the longitudinal length of the portions of the sheet which simulate the courses of masonry by an amount equal to the width of a transverse mortar joint.

5. A covering sheet for'laying upon a surface in overlapping arrangement with similar covering sheets which comprises a base having upon the portion to 'be exposed thereof a simulation of masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with longitudinal and transverse mortar joints therebetween, the end of the portion to be overlapped of said sheet being on a line which if extended would pass intermediate the simulating transverse joints of the masonry, and longitudinal length of said portion to be overlapped being greater than the longitudinal length of the portions of the sheet which simulate the courses of masonry by an amount equal to the width of a transverse mortar joint, the length of the simulated longitudinal joint being also greater than the longitudinal length of said portions of the sheet simulating courses of masonry by an amount equal to the width of a. transverse joint.

6. A covering sheet for laying upon a. surface in complementary arrangement with similar covering sheets which comprises a base having upon at least a portion of the surface thereof a simulation of masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with mortar joints therebetween, the longitudinal boundaries of said portion of the surface extending along lines coincident with the simulated longitudinal joints of the masonry, the transverse boundaries of saidarea being at the ends of the sheet and completing an outline at said ends having a stepped form rising at each end in the same direction longitudlnally of the sheet.

, 7. A covering sheet for laying on a surface in overlapping arrangement including a portion -thereof to be overlapped comprising a base having at least a part of the surface thereof demarked by at least one stripe across the sheet and by cuts in the base extending transversely to the stripe into areas simulating masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with mortar joints therebetween in oil'set arrangement, the ends of said sheet transverse to said stripe being of the stepped form of the oflset arrangement of the joints of the masonry as provided by cuts along the stripe, each joining two transverse cuts, and the edges of said portion to be overlapped being not in line with the lines of said simulated joints in the exposed portion.

8. A covering sheet for laying on a surface in overlapping arrangement including a portion thereof to be overlapped comprising a base having at least a part of the surface thereof demarked by at least one stripe across the sheet and by cuts in the base extending transversely to the stripe into areas simulating masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with mortar joints therebetween, the ends of said sheet transverse to said stripe being cut in such stepped form corresponding to that of the joints of the masonry that cuts in the areas simulating the masonry units are avoided, the end edges of the sheet and the edges joining one stepped end edge with another being along the line simulating respectively the end edge and a lengthwise edge of a masonry unit, and the edges of said portion to be overlapped being not in line with the lines of said simulated joints in the exposed portion,

9. A covering sheet for laying upon a surface in complementary arrangement with similar covering sheets and with a portion of its surface overlapped which comprises a base having upon at least a portion of the surface thereof a simulation of masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with mortar joints therebetween, the longitudinal boundaries of said portion of the surface extending along lines coincident with the simulated longitudinal joints of the masonry, the transverse boundaries of said area being at the ends of. the sheet and completing an outline of said end'having a stepped form, said transverse outline conforming to the transverse joints of the masonry, and an edge of said portion to be overlapped being not in line with the lines of said simulated joints in the exposed portion.

10. A covering sheet for laying upon a surface in complementary arrangement with similar coverand extending along the and edges ofthe end masonry units in each course, and an edge of said portion to be overlapped being not in line with the lines of said simulated joints in'the portion.

11. A covering for laying upon a surface upon which is simulated a plurality of courses of masonry units, said simulated masonry units being provided by discontinuous longitudinal transversely spaced stripes having a surface character simulating the masonry units, said discontinuous stripes being separated by continuous longitudinal stripes havinga surface of a character contrasting with that of said discontinuous stripes to simulate the longitudinal joints of masonry, said covering having cuts therein extending transversely of said continuous longitudinal stripes and dividing said discontinuous stripes into a series of areas simulating the masonry units, said cuts being so formed as to simulate the transverse joints of the masonry, said covering having the edge thereof extending generally transversely of the longitudinal dimension of the covering cut longitudinally along the longitudinal joints and transversely along the transverse joints of the masonry.

12. A covering sheet for laying upon a surface in complementary arrangement with similar covering sheets, which comprises a base having upon at least a portion of the surface thereof a simulation of masonry units laid in a plurality of courses with mortar joints therebetween, the iongitudinal boundaries of said portion of the surface extending along lines within the simulated longitudinal joints of the masonry, the transverse boundaries of said portion extending along lines within the simulated transverse joints of the masonry and completing an outline for said portion having an offset form.

13. A covering sheet for laying upon a surface in overlapping arrangement with similar covering sheets, having demarked on the portion thereof to be exposed a simulation of a plurality ofcourses of masonry units laid with joints therebetween, the transverse joints of the masonry being simulated by cutouts in the sheet exposing therethrough the surface of an overlapped portion, which overlapped surface has its extent in a direction transverse to the courses greater than the extent in said direction of the portion simulating the plurality of courses with the jointstherebetween and including a longitudinal joint above the topmost course simulated on said sheet, whereby a multiple ply covering with a headlap may be laid upon the surface when the edge to be exposed of an overlapping sheet is laid a distance above said topmost simulated course a distance equal to the width of a longitudinal joint, the ends of said sheet having a form coinciding in the exposed portion of said sheet with the simulated masonry joints upon the sheet,

- and the end edges of the overlapped portion thereof being not in line with the lines of said simulated joints in the exposed portion. 

